CARSON ROBERTS

Carson Roberts, an emerging artist from Portland, Oregon, impressed me when we met at a 2019 pop-up event. Visiting his apartment, I saw art was his lifestyle, inspiring me to create a short video to help him promote his work and connect with buyers.

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Portland Artist, Carson Roberts

Carson Roberts is an artist worth keeping an eye on. I had the pleasure of meeting him in the summer of 2019 at a pop-up event in East Portland. We struck up a conversation and exchanged Instagram accounts. However, it wasn't until several months later that I reached out to him.

I had recently moved into my apartment in Lake Oswego and was looking to decorate my walls. I remembered Carson had some paintings for sale, so I checked his Instagram account. One particular painting caught my attention - "Street Saint," which depicted a man flying through the sky with a burning background. I contacted Carson directly, expressing my interest in purchasing the painting and wanting to see it in person. He was excited to hear from me and invited me to his aparrtment to view the painting.

As soon as I entered his apartment, it was clear I was in the presence of a true artist. The floor was covered in bed sheets, and the walls were adorned with large 40-inch canvases as if they watched over him as he slept. He offered me a seat in his wheelchair, and upon my inquiry, he explained that it was found on the street, and he decided to repurpose it as furniture, which made me chuckle. Even before viewing his artwork, I was impressed by his dedication to his craft and resourcefulness. I prefer to support artists who live and breathe their art rather than those who do it as a hobby.

Upon finally showing me the painting, I was struck by its beauty. Slightly larger than I had imagined, I couldn't help but ask about the materials he used. Carson revealed that he had used a combination of acrylic, spray paint, and pastel on repurposed reflective roll-up vinyl. He shared with me about his late-night excursions, scouring the streets for construction materials to use in his art. I was in awe of this "starving artist" 's dedication and passion for his craft, even going as far as to obtain materials through unconventional means.

Curious about his creative process, I asked about it, and he shared that he writes down his thoughts and feelings while painting on the back of each canvas, which I found interesting and unique.

Inspired by his art and story, I purchased the painting. As a socially conscious artist, Carson donated 1/3 of his earnings to the National Police Accountability Project. To check out more of Carson's work, visit his website carsonrobertsart.com.

My Role: Art Director, Writer, Producer, Photographer

Fenn Paider: DOP, Video Editor